Spurs vs. Pistons Prediction and Odds (Both San Antonio and Detroit Players are Dropping Like Flies)

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Detroit Pistons this season.

They've lost 18-of-19 games, have eight players in the NBA's health and safety protocols, and continue to wait for Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk to recover from injuries.

They'll ring in the new year against the San Antonio Spurs on the second leg of a back-to-back after a blowout loss to Memphis last night. Despite being five games under .500, the Spurs have actually played much better than the win/loss record would indicate.

Can the Spurs bounce back off their two-game skid and cover on the road vs. the league's worst team?

Here are the latest odds via WynnBET:

Spurs vs. Pistons Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• Spurs -6 (-110)
• Pistons -6 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Spurs -250
• Pistons +200

Total:

• 223 (Over -110/Under -110)

Spurs vs. Pistons Prediction and Pick

I like to fade teams on the second leg of back-to-backs as much as anyone, especially when both games are on the road. However, the Pistons are the exception to the rule.

Give credit to guys like Saddiq Bay and Hamidou Diallo for keeping Detroit within arm's length in their last game vs. the Knicks, but the Pistons are a MASH unit at this point, and I can't fathom backing them, even in a spot that would normally make plenty of sense: rest advantage, 6+ point underdogs at home, opposing team's best player is out.

At the same time, I don't think I can back the Spurs' side either. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that while star guard Dejounte Murray is now available to play, he will likely wait on tonight's matchup. Also, San Antonio is now down two more rotation players as Lonnie Walker and Doug McDermott are in the COVID-19 protocol.

With so many key names out, I don't see strong opportunities for both sides to score. The Pistons are dead last in offensive rating (before the bulk of their team got sidelined), and while the Spurs have been a surprisingly efficient offensive team this year, I expect their offense to take a dip due to the back-to-back as well as being short-handed in their rotation.

It may be an ugly game in the Motor City tonight, so here's to betting on the under to make it even uglier.

PICK: UNDER 223